Active focus

Low number of surfaces (6) for the complete range of wavefront control functions field stabilization, active focusing and centering, actively deformable surfaces, dual conjugates adaptive optics ... 

These are exciting times for peptide based materials. The number of investigators in this field and consequently the number of publications in this area have increased tremendously in recent years. Not since the middle of the past century has there been so much activity focused on the physical properties of peptidic materials. Then, efforts were focused on determination of the fundamental elements that make up protein structures, leading to the discoveries of the a—helix and the (3-sheet. Many years of study followed where the propensities of individual and combinations of amino acids to adopt and stabilize these structures were investigated. Now, this knowledge is being applied to the preparation, assembly, and use of peptide based materials with designed sequences. This volume summarizes recent developments in all these areas. 

In the past decade, general interest and research activities focusing on anthocyanins have considerably increased. This increased interest is not only based on the common knowledge that these water-soluble pigments can be used as possible alternatives to artificial food colorants, but also it relates to their bioactive properties. When search-... 

Reports that AA is released primarily by G-protein-mediated PLA2 activation remain to be confirmed [84, 85]. In addition, modulation of PLA2 by Ca2+ and protein kinase needs to be better defined. It is clear that NMDA receptor activation promotes the release of AA [86], and that a variety of eicosanoids are then generated (Fig 33-2,33-3). The modulatory events that channel AA towards specific eicosanoids are not understood. The endocannabinoid family of lipid messengers will remain an active focus of interest because of the growing evidence of their actions in synaptic function, learning, memory, and other forms of behavior [56,87]. 

Work To Date. From 1977-80, the most intensive and productive OECD activities focused upon Mutual Acceptance of Data (MAD) and the development of test guidelines and GLP s. Efforts also were devoted to the Step Sequence Group and, in particular, that body s efforts to develop a Minimum Pre-Marketing Set of Data (MPD). Technical and scientific work also progressed on the various hazard assessment issues and expert groups worked on recommendations concerning confidential data, definitions of key terms, and principles of information exchange. 

Systematic solubility measurements of organometallic transition metal precatalysts were performed in our laboratories as part of the ConNeCat activities [25]. These activities focus on a multi-phase approach, in which product separation is to be achieved by a thermally or pressure-controlled phase separation, while the catalyst is completely precipitated. 

The statin family of pharmaceuticals require a chiral side chain, representing a target that has attracted a great deal of activity focused on preparing various potential intermediates. A number of reports have been published on the reduction of chloroacetoacetate esters for conversion into this target molecule. A method suitable for large-scale production has been published that operates at 36.6gL and 95.2 % yield with 99% ee. This reaction is shown in Figure 1.43. 

Membranes have been an active focus of NMR research for some time, using techniques appropriate to both solution and oriented samples to determine dynamics and structure. Readers are encouraged to consult several excellent recent reviews on this broad area,4,5,105 as only highlights directly related to HRMAS will be included here. While MAS has been applied for some time at modest rotation rates typical of HRMAS,7 recent applications at high spinning speeds (> 10 kHz) provided high resolution XH NMR... 

Harmonization activities focus on reducing and simplifying the types of studies that the pharmaceutical industries need to carry out in order to register a medical product in another country, protocols to be followed when performing these studies, techniques used to validate supporting data, and techniques used to perform risk assessment. 

With a supply route estabhshed (route 2) and supplies of radafaxine available to fund the initial development activities, focus switched to discovering a more efficient synthesis. Environmental considerations were a key consideration, and a dual program of work was initiated to address these concerns. One approach was to investigate the feasibihty of identifying a Dynamic Resolution to avoid the losses associated with the undesired (R,R)-enantiomer, discussed above, while, in parallel, the viability of employing continuous chromatography to separate the enantiomers was examined. 

A major increase in attention to the "CO2 problem" during this decade also stimulated considerable activity. Much of this activity was devoted to modeling current systems, such as those described in Chapter 9. While a major portion of this activity focused on the current environment and human impact, the "CO2 problem" also sparked interest in trying to understand long-term processes, such as the role of sedimentary carbonates in the evolution of the Earth s atmosphere. 

Reports on ruthenium catalytic activity focus more on mechanistic consideration of the prototypical phenylacetylene dimerization than in establishing its synthetic applicability. It is not unusual that changing the alkyne substituents results in reversed selectivity (i.e. R = Ph or SiMe3 gave ( )- or (Z)- isomers, respectively) [27]. Competitive alkyne cyclotrimerization (R = COOMe) [27] or butatriene formation (R= CH2Ph, Bu) [10, 21] have occasionally been reported as possible drawbacks in enyne synthesis. The operating mechanism restricts the reaction to terminal alkynes. 

The second route towards increasing Nd catalyst activity focuses on the fragmentation of Nd carboxylate clusters which are present in non-polar solvents. Fragmentation is achieved by simple changes in the preparation of the Nd-carboxylate. This change is reported to result in exceptionally high catalyst activities (Sects. 2.1.1.2 and 4.2) [156,367,417-419]. 

Donna J. Dean, National Institutes of Health A couple of weeks ago at an NIH-related activity focusing on underrepresented minorities in science and medicine I heard a very good phrase related to the glass ceiling concept the sticky floor. Even in places where there are no glass ceilings, there is still a sticky floor holding people back. 

In the beginning the scientific activity focused on thermodynamical equilibrium and corrosion but later electrochemical kinetics as well as industrial applications gained ground. 

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